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YerazArt Young Musicians from Armenia to Embark on United States Tour
April 26- May 11, 2007
The YerazArt Foundation, a Boston-based 501 c (3) non-profit arts organization, will send its critically acclaimed YerazArt Young Musicians from Armenia group on tour for a series of ten concerts in eight cities across the Unites States from April 26- May 11, 2007. Eight prodigious musicians from the ancient South Caucasus nation will present the music of their culture in a blend of indigenous folk music and Western classical music. The aim of the tour is to connect North American audiences with one of the world’s oldest musical legacies in addition to giving an opportunity for the YerazArt musicians to experience the thrill of concert stages across the world. Cities included on the tour are Boston (2 shows), Santa Fe, Albuquerque (2 shows), Austin, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, and Los Angeles.
“The spring 2007 tour will focus on Armenia’s brightest young talents in addition to the folk and classical traditions of their homeland, “ stated YerazArt Executive Director Raffi Meneshian. “ For all of the musicians, this tour is especially exciting as they many will be performing in the United States for the first time. On the other hand, it’s always interesting for me to see the shocked reactions of audience members as teenagers from Armenia transform themselves into accomplished concert musicians onstage. Almost no one leaves with a dry eye”.
Partially inspired by Yo Yo Ma’s “Silk Road Project”, the YerazArt performance has distinct lineage to the groundbreaking project initiated by the internationally renowned cellist. Fifteen year old YerazArt duduk player (an Armenian oboe made of apricot wood) Harutyun Chkolyan is the protégé of duduk master Gevork Dabaghyan, a featured “Silk Road Project” participant and leader of the Armenia’s Shoghaken Ensemble. Dabaghyan’s prized student was spotted as early as age six by the duduk master in the hardscrabble Armenian town of Gavar. Since then, Chkolyan has gone on to win various regional competitions and master the clarinet, shvi (Armenian flute), and zourna ( Also known as a Mizmar or European Shawm). Most recently, Chkolyan was featured as the standout musician in a rousing performance at the Massachusetts State House in 2006 where he was met with a standing ovation from the House Chamber audience. His entire family moved to Armenia’s capital city Yerevan in order to have him study with Dabaghyan, resting their hopes on his success. For this tour, Chkolyan will perform solo as well as lead the YerazArt Armenian Folk Trio featuring Anahit Dilbaryan on the kanoon (Armenian zither) and ethnographic folk singer Serine Poghosyan.
Another rising start to watch is fourteen year old piano sensation Nara Avetisyan. A frequent prize winner (Greece, Italy, Armenia), Avetisyan hails from Yerevan and is a member of the Trio YerazArt, an ensemble featuring cellist Gayane Khachatryan and violinist Lilit Khachatryan. In 2006, Avetisyan appeared as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra performing the first movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s titanic Piano Concerto No. 2. Frequently cited for her sensitive approach combined with a rare ability to tackle to most difficult of piano repertoire, Avetisyan follows in the footsteps of a well respected stable of pianists including Armen Babakhanian, the controversial 5th place winner of the Ninth International Van Cliburn Competition (1993). The cross- cultural concert approach will also display the skills of Gor Melkumyan and Meri Khojayan on the trumpet and violin respectively performing miniatures and encore favorites by Schubert, Brahms, and Paganini.
The YerazArt musicians will be also be performing works of rarely heard Armenian composers such as Arno Babajanian, Khachatur Avetisyan, Sergei Barkhudaryan, and Edward Baghdasaryan. Music by icons such as Komitas, Aram Khachaturian, and Sayat Nova will also be performed.
Itinerary of Concerts
Thursday, April 26, 2007, 7:30pm
Armenian Cultural Foundation
441 Mystic Street
Arlington, MA 02474
Co-sponsored by St. Stephens Armenian School (Watertown, MA)
Contact: Nicole Hajjar
Friday, April 27, 2007, 7:30pm
Armenian Cultural Foundation
441 Mystic Street
Arlington, MA 02474
Co-sponsored by St. Stephens Armenian School ( Watertown, MA)
Contact: Nicole Hajjar
Saturday, April 28, 2007, 7:30pm
College of Santa Fe- Department of Contemporary Music
Contact: Mr. Steven Paxton
1600 St. Michael’s Drive
Santa, Fe, New Mexico 87505
Sponsored by the College of Santa Fe Department of Contemporary Music
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 5pm
South Broadway Cultural Center
1025 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Sponsored by the City of Albuquerque, Office of Cultural Affairs
Contact: A.J. Carian
Thursday, May 3, 2007, 8PM
University Christian Church
2007 University Ave.
Austin, TX 78705
Sponsored by the Armenian Community of Austin, TX
Contact: Ken Maranian
Friday, May 4, 2007
Houston Baptist University
Mabee Theater
7502 Fondren Road
Houston, TX 77074
Sponsored by St. Kevork’s Armenian Church of Houston, TX
Contact: Vreij Kolandjian
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Saroyan Hall
825 Brotherhood Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
Sponsored by the KZV Armenian School
Contact: Rostom Aintablian
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Fresno State Universtity
Wahlberg Auditorium
5241 North Maple Ave
Fresno, CA 93740
Sponsored by Armenian Cultural Foundation of Fresno
Contact: Ara Catchatoorian
Friday, May 11, 2007
Kalaydjian Hall
3325 Glenoaks Blvd
Burbank, CA 91504
Sponsored by the Armenian Diocese Western Region
Contact: Raffi Kendirjian
Official website: http://www.yerazart.org/
YerazArt Young Musicians from Armenia to Embark on United States Tour
April 26- May 11, 2007
The YerazArt Foundation, a Boston-based 501 c (3) non-profit arts organization, will send its critically acclaimed YerazArt Young Musicians from Armenia group on tour for a series of ten concerts in eight cities across the Unites States from April 26- May 11, 2007. Eight prodigious musicians from the ancient South Caucasus nation will present the music of their culture in a blend of indigenous folk music and Western classical music. The aim of the tour is to connect North American audiences with one of the world’s oldest musical legacies in addition to giving an opportunity for the YerazArt musicians to experience the thrill of concert stages across the world. Cities included on the tour are Boston (2 shows), Santa Fe, Albuquerque (2 shows), Austin, Houston, San Francisco, Fresno, and Los Angeles.
“The spring 2007 tour will focus on Armenia’s brightest young talents in addition to the folk and classical traditions of their homeland, “ stated YerazArt Executive Director Raffi Meneshian. “ For all of the musicians, this tour is especially exciting as they many will be performing in the United States for the first time. On the other hand, it’s always interesting for me to see the shocked reactions of audience members as teenagers from Armenia transform themselves into accomplished concert musicians onstage. Almost no one leaves with a dry eye”.
Partially inspired by Yo Yo Ma’s “Silk Road Project”, the YerazArt performance has distinct lineage to the groundbreaking project initiated by the internationally renowned cellist. Fifteen year old YerazArt duduk player (an Armenian oboe made of apricot wood) Harutyun Chkolyan is the protégé of duduk master Gevork Dabaghyan, a featured “Silk Road Project” participant and leader of the Armenia’s Shoghaken Ensemble. Dabaghyan’s prized student was spotted as early as age six by the duduk master in the hardscrabble Armenian town of Gavar. Since then, Chkolyan has gone on to win various regional competitions and master the clarinet, shvi (Armenian flute), and zourna ( Also known as a Mizmar or European Shawm). Most recently, Chkolyan was featured as the standout musician in a rousing performance at the Massachusetts State House in 2006 where he was met with a standing ovation from the House Chamber audience. His entire family moved to Armenia’s capital city Yerevan in order to have him study with Dabaghyan, resting their hopes on his success. For this tour, Chkolyan will perform solo as well as lead the YerazArt Armenian Folk Trio featuring Anahit Dilbaryan on the kanoon (Armenian zither) and ethnographic folk singer Serine Poghosyan.
Another rising start to watch is fourteen year old piano sensation Nara Avetisyan. A frequent prize winner (Greece, Italy, Armenia), Avetisyan hails from Yerevan and is a member of the Trio YerazArt, an ensemble featuring cellist Gayane Khachatryan and violinist Lilit Khachatryan. In 2006, Avetisyan appeared as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra performing the first movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s titanic Piano Concerto No. 2. Frequently cited for her sensitive approach combined with a rare ability to tackle to most difficult of piano repertoire, Avetisyan follows in the footsteps of a well respected stable of pianists including Armen Babakhanian, the controversial 5th place winner of the Ninth International Van Cliburn Competition (1993). The cross- cultural concert approach will also display the skills of Gor Melkumyan and Meri Khojayan on the trumpet and violin respectively performing miniatures and encore favorites by Schubert, Brahms, and Paganini.
The YerazArt musicians will be also be performing works of rarely heard Armenian composers such as Arno Babajanian, Khachatur Avetisyan, Sergei Barkhudaryan, and Edward Baghdasaryan. Music by icons such as Komitas, Aram Khachaturian, and Sayat Nova will also be performed.
Itinerary of Concerts
Thursday, April 26, 2007, 7:30pm
Armenian Cultural Foundation
441 Mystic Street
Arlington, MA 02474
Co-sponsored by St. Stephens Armenian School (Watertown, MA)
Contact: Nicole Hajjar
Friday, April 27, 2007, 7:30pm
Armenian Cultural Foundation
441 Mystic Street
Arlington, MA 02474
Co-sponsored by St. Stephens Armenian School ( Watertown, MA)
Contact: Nicole Hajjar
Saturday, April 28, 2007, 7:30pm
College of Santa Fe- Department of Contemporary Music
Contact: Mr. Steven Paxton
1600 St. Michael’s Drive
Santa, Fe, New Mexico 87505
Sponsored by the College of Santa Fe Department of Contemporary Music
Sunday, April 29, 2007, 5pm
South Broadway Cultural Center
1025 Broadway SE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Sponsored by the City of Albuquerque, Office of Cultural Affairs
Contact: A.J. Carian
Thursday, May 3, 2007, 8PM
University Christian Church
2007 University Ave.
Austin, TX 78705
Sponsored by the Armenian Community of Austin, TX
Contact: Ken Maranian
Friday, May 4, 2007
Houston Baptist University
Mabee Theater
7502 Fondren Road
Houston, TX 77074
Sponsored by St. Kevork’s Armenian Church of Houston, TX
Contact: Vreij Kolandjian
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Saroyan Hall
825 Brotherhood Way
San Francisco, CA 94132
Sponsored by the KZV Armenian School
Contact: Rostom Aintablian
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Fresno State Universtity
Wahlberg Auditorium
5241 North Maple Ave
Fresno, CA 93740
Sponsored by Armenian Cultural Foundation of Fresno
Contact: Ara Catchatoorian
Friday, May 11, 2007
Kalaydjian Hall
3325 Glenoaks Blvd
Burbank, CA 91504
Sponsored by the Armenian Diocese Western Region
Contact: Raffi Kendirjian
Official website: http://www.yerazart.org/
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